OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Carrboro, NC 27510

Carrboro: median income $61,837, home value $449,700, $282/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30329 89%330$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Richmond, VA 23230 86%146$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78752 86%1,141$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Winooski, VT 05404 85%670$79,522$381,500$280 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46202 82%469$63,506$439,200$222 more walkable · older homes
Irving, TX 75038 80%1,040$68,990$408,000$232 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77004 80%1,035$71,199$412,800$192 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Memphis, TN 38103 79%618$76,278$397,300$207 cheaper homes ($52K less) · newer homes
Addison, TX 75001 79%1,030$73,514$468,800$259 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Fort Worth, TX 76132 79%1,067$63,924$396,200$178 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78758 79%1,141$74,381$440,200$231 larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 79%1,798$52,952$440,200$399 more walkable
Portland, OR 97201 79%2,346$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($224K more) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Charlottesville, VA 22903 78%151$69,340$526,200$304 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37208 78%431$65,556$520,000$315 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · more walkable
Dallas, TX 75287 78%1,029$63,741$405,600$230 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80231 78%1,427$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Denver, CO 80246 78%1,430$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($267K more) · more walkable
Gainesville, FL 32608 77%475$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78728 77%1,137$75,243$437,000$217 larger · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85014 77%1,871$66,731$476,100$298 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Iowa City, IA 52246 76%779$62,521$348,900$176 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more homeowners
State College, PA 16801 75%344$61,836$414,600$228 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46240 75%472$75,156$348,000$207 cheaper homes ($102K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75254 75%1,029$67,216$287,300$217 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.